Wool-cleaning machine



(No Model J. BRANDY. WOOL CLEANING MACHINE.

N 1' Patented June 29, 1897'.

lllllllllllflflflfllmllllllilllllllllul NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES BRANDY, OF TRINIDAD, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO GEORGE M. FORBES, OF LAS ANIMAS COUNTY, COLORADO.

WOOL-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 585,617, dated June 29, 1897. Application filed February 11, 1897. Serial No. 622,967. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES BRANDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trinidad, in the county of Las Animas and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wool Cleaning Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters'of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention is a machine for removing impurities from wool; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my improve ments. Fig. 2 is .an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail view.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable inclosed supporting-frame A, in the.

upper edge of which is journaled the main driving-shaft B, having the band-pulleys C C at one end, through which motion is imparted to the shaft from any convenient motor. WVithin the casing or supporting -frame I secure to the shaft a hollow tapered drum D, which consists of the solid end disks E and a perforated body or screen cover F, secured to and extending between the same. At intervals around the drum 1 secure the longitudinal rods or bars G, which serve to protect and stiffen the screen, and in or on the alternate barsI secure the teeth or pickers H. Within the drum are a number of tie-rods I, which are bolted to and extend between the end disks to brace and strengthen the structure, and secured rigidly upon these rods are a number of fan-blades or plates J. l/Vithin the supporting-frame are secured the teeth or pickers K, which coact with the teeth II on the drum to open and break the wool. Below the drum and concentric therewith I secure within the casing a screen L, and below said screen are arranged boxes or receptacles M, adapted to catch the impurities forced from the wool. Over the drum I secure upon the casing a cover N, which is arranged concentrically with the drum .and has a discharge-flue leading from the larger end to any suitable receptacle for the wool. Leading into the machine through the cover and near the smaller end of the same is a hotblast flue P, through which a hot blast is blown into and through the drum in the operation of the machine. The cover is further provided in one side near the smaller end with an opening, through which the wool is fed into the machine, as will be presently more particularly referred to. v

On the end of the main driving-shaft opposite the driving-pulleys is a small bandpulley Q, which is connected by a belt R with a pulley S on the end of ashort countershaft T, which is journaled on the frame at the front side of the same. This countershaft extends to the feed-opening U in the casing and has a corrugated crushing-roller V on its end, and adjacent to the outer end of said roller I secure on said shaft a pinion W, which meshes with a similar pinion X on the shaft of an upper corrugated roller Y, mounted in sliding hearings in the side bars of a frame Z, supporting the feed-apron a. This apron operates at right angles to the drum and carries the wool to the crushingrollers, forming a moving table on which the wool may be spread so as to be fed to the machine evenly. The upper crushing-roller is held to the lower roller by springs 22, as shown, which permit the said upper roller to yield to irregularities in the mass of wool passing into the drum and yet hold it sufficiently close to the lower roller to insure its proper operation.

In practice motion is imparted to the driving-shaft and the drum thereby rotated. At

the same time that the drum is set in motion a hot blast is started through the machine, the blast being created in any convenient manner. The movement of the main driving-shaft is transmitted through the gearing shown to the crushing-rollers and the feedapron, so that the wool placed on said apron will be fed to said rollers and thence into the machine. As the wool passes between the crushing-rollers all foreign substances which may be in the wool will be crushed and broken, so as to be easily separated therefrom while passing through the machine. After the wool enters the machine it is caught upon the drum and passes over the same, being opened and broken by the pickers or teeth on the drum and the inside of the casing and also by reason of the hot blast driving it violently against the screen of which the drum is co1nposed. The rotation of the drum necessarily causes a rotation of the fan-blades, and consequently an agitation of the air within the drum, which prevents the wool from sticking to the drum and throws it violently against the concave screen below the drum, the result being that all impurities are blown from the wool and driven through said concave screen into the boxes below the same. The hot blast which is kept constantly passing through the machine carries the wool along the drum and finally out through the discharge-flue, the blast being hot, so as to maintain the wool at the temperature adapted to its most successful working.

The machine is simple in construction and efiicient in operation, and detailed reference to its advantages is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A wool-cleaning machine comprising a casing having a feed-opening at one end and a discharge-opening at the opposite end thereof, an air-flue leading through the top of the casing at the feed-opening end thereof, longitudinally-disposed series of pickers or teeth secured within the casing, a perforated drum mounted within the casing, longitudinallydisposed series of pickers or teeth on the drum, longitudinal braces or tie-rods within the drum, fan-blades secured rigidly on saidbraces or tie-rods, and a concave screen within the casing below the drum.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JA MES BRANDY.

Witnesses:

EDMUND JAMES HULING, JAMEs LEROY BRIDGE, J r. 

